City of Santa Monica
City Council Meeting
AGENDA
LANA NEGRETE
MAYOR
ELLIS RASKIN CAROLINE TOROSIS
COUNCILMEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM
DAN HALL BARRY SNELL
COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER
JESSE ZWICK NATALYA ZERNITSKAYA
COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER
OLIVER C. CHI
CITY MANAGER
DOUGLAS SLOAN
CITY ATTORNEY
NIKIMA S. NEWSOME
CITY CLERK
STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR THAT PROMOTE CIVILITY AT ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS:
• Treat everyone courteously; • Embrace respectful disagreement and dissent as democratic rights, inherent components of an inclusive
public process, and tools for forging sound decisions
• Hate has no place in Santa Monica. The City opposes
abusive or threatening hate speech, intolerance, or
dehumanization, and supports basic civil respect and
human decency.
• Listen to others respectfully;
• Exercise self-control;
• Give open-minded consideration
to all viewpoints;
• Focus on the issues and avoid
personalizing debate;
Regular meetings are broadcast live on CityTV cable channel 16 and on the internet at santamonica.gov. Cable television re-broadcasts air on Thursday and Saturday at 11:30 AM. The agenda will air on CityTV on Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM, and on Monday and Tuesday at 12:30 PM and 6:00 PM.
City of Santa Monica Generated: 8/6/2025 10:14 AM Page 2
RULES OF ORDER FOR THE CONDUCT OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS (Resolution No.11663(CCS))
WAYS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT
If you are interested in providing public comment at a City Council meeting, there are several ways to participate:
(1) Written public comment. In lieu of oral public comment, the public is strongly encouraged to submit written public comment on agenda items via email to [email protected]. For written public comment submitted by 12:00 pm on the day of the meeting, best efforts shall be made to have them available online for viewing. Please note the agenda item number in the subject line of your written comments.
(2) Oral public comment.
- In-person: Persons wishing to address the City Council regarding items on the agenda must be present and submit their name and address (optional) to the City Clerk before the public comment section is opened for that item or before the public hearing is opened where one is required by law. Register to speak at the Speaker Kiosk prior to the meeting. - Telephone: Persons wishing to address the Council by telephone must register at santamonica.gov/public-comment no later than 5:00 p.m. the day before a meeting. Showing electronic presentation materials are not permitted when commenting by telephone.
Oral public comment from any one individual is limited to a total of 6 minutes per City Council meeting, with a maximum of 2 minutes per agenda item if speaking on multiple items. A member of the public may allocate time between items in one-minute increments up to 2 minutes and those requesting to speak on only one agendized item for the meeting may speak for up to 4 minutes on that one item. Except for noticed public hearings or quasi-judicial items, if more than 25 speakers are registered to speak during a public input section, the amount of time shall be reduced to 1 minute per speaker during that section.
Except for the author of the request, public comment on 15-items are limited to 1 minute.
Levine Act Disclosure. Pursuant to the Levine Act (Govt Code Section 84308), any party to a permit, license, contract, or other entitlement before the Council is required to disclose on the record any contribution, including aggregated contributions, of more than $500 made by the party or the party's agents within the preceding 12 months to any City official. Participants and agents are requested to make this disclosure as well. The disclosure must include the name of the party, participant, or agent, and any other person making the contribution; the name of the recipient, the amount of the contribution, and the date the contribution was made. Information regarding the Levine Act can be found here or you can contact the FPPC.
ORDER OF BUSINESS (may not be changed except by majority vote of the City Council.)
1. General Public Input
(Members of the public may address the City Council
only on items not on the agenda, but within the
subject matter jurisdiction of the City and on Special
Agenda Items.)
2. Special Agenda Items (Commendations and
Proclamations presented).
3. Public Comment for Consent Calendar and Closed
Sessions Only.
4. Consent Calendar (All items considered in one
motion unless removed by a City Councilmember for
discussion. No public comment is permitted on
second readings.)
5. Closed Sessions.
6. Public Comment on remaining Agenda Items
7. Study Session.
8. Continued Items.
9. Administrative Proceedings.
10. Ordinances:
• 1
st Reading
• 2
nd Reading (No public comment is
permitted on second readings.)
11. Staff Administrative Item.
12. Public Hearings.
13. Reports of Boards and Commissions.
14. Resolutions.
15. Written Communications (Other than
Reports of Commission and Officers.)
16. Councilmember Discussion Items.
Agendas and reports are accessible on the City's webpage at smgov.net/council/agendas. They are also available at the City Clerk's Office and in alternate formats upon request. For a free email subscription to the City Council Agendas, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or [email protected].
Si desea comunicarse con alguien en español, llame a nuestra oficina al (310) 458-8211 y pida hablar con Esterlina Lugo.
City of Santa Monica Generated: 8/6/2025 10:14 AM Page 3
AGENDAS
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1685 MAIN STREET, ROOM 250,
TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2025
MEETING BEGINS AT 5:35 PM
HOW TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT BY TELEPHONE
Persons wishing to address the City Council by telephone must register at santamonica.gov/public-comment no later than 5:00 p.m. the day before a meeting.
Donation of time and showing electronic presentation materials are not permitted when commenting by telephone.
PUBLIC COMMENT BY PHONE IS SUSPENDED FOR THIS SPECIAL MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/ LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ROLL CALL
(This is a special City Council meeting. Public comment is restricted to only items listed on the agenda.)
City of Santa Monica Statement of Accountability (Land Acknowledgement) The City of Santa Monica is located on the land of Tovangaar. With great respect, the City acknowledges the Gabrieleño/Tongva as the First People of this ancestral and unceded territory of Kuruvungna, a village that we know as Santa Monica. We honor their elders, past and present, and the Gabrieleño descendants who are part of the Gabrieleño /Tongva tribes.
We recognize that these peoples are still here, and as settlers and kuyam (guests), we recognize our responsibility and obligation to care for their land in partnership with them.
The City of Santa Monica commits to work in partnership with the Gabrieleño/Tongva people to uplift their voices and visibility on their ancestral land.
LEVINE ACT DISCLOSURES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS / PROCEDURAL
MOTIONS
City of Santa Monica Generated: 8/6/2025 10:14 AM Page 4
1. GENERAL PUBLIC INPUT AND COMMENT ON SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS (For regular meetings, public comment is permitted on Special Agenda Items and items not on the agenda that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City. State law prohibits the City Council from taking any action on items not listed on the agenda, including issues raised under this agenda item. For special meetings, public input is limited to scheduled Special Agenda Items only.)
. Public input under this item will not be heard at this meeting. This is a special meeting and public input is limited to agenda items only.
2. SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS
No items
3. PUBLIC INPUT (ITEMS UNDER CONSENT CALENDAR AND CLOSED SESSION ONLY)
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
(All items will be considered and approved in one motion unless removed by a Councilmember for discussion. In accordance with Charter section 615, the adoption of all ordinances and resolutions shall be by reading of title only unless a Councilmember present dissents. No public discussion is permitted on ordinances for second reading and adoption.)
No items
5. CLOSED SESSIONS
No items
CITY MANAGER
TRAVEL ANNOUNCEMENT AND MAYOR'S HIGHLIGHT
6. PUBLIC INPUT ON REMAINING AGENDA ITEMS
. Public Comment by Phone is Suspended for this Special Meeting
7. STUDY SESSION
No items
8. CONTINUED ITEMS
No items
9. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS
City of Santa Monica Generated: 8/6/2025 10:14 AM Page 5 No items
10. ORDINANCES
(Public comment is permitted on ordinances for introduction and first reading. No public discussion is permitted on ordinances for second reading and adoption. In accordance with Charter section 615, the adoption of all ordinances and resolutions shall be by reading of title only unless a Councilmember present dissents.)
No items
11. STAFF ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
No items
12. PUBLIC HEARINGS
No items
13. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
No items
14. RESOLUTIONS
No items
15. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
No items
16. COUNCILMEMBER DISCUSSION ITEMS
16.A. Request by Councilmember Snell, with support from Mayor Pro Tem Torosis and Councilmember Hall, requesting City Council consideration of the following: (1) Remove all six of the current City Council appointed board members to the DTSM Board of Directors; and (2) Make the necessary findings that there currently exists an emergency circumstance which requires the City Council to expedite the appointment process for six new board members to DTSM.
ADJOURNMENT
Agendas and reports are accessible on the City's webpage at www.smgov.net/council/agendas. They are also available at the City Clerk's Office and in alternate formats upon request. For a free email subscription to the City Council Agendas, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or [email protected].
Members of the public unable to attend a meeting but wishing to comment on an item(s) listed on the agenda may submit written comments prior to the meeting by meeting by mailing them to: City Clerk, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 or to City of Santa Monica Generated: 8/6/2025 10:14 AM Page 6 [email protected]. Written comments received from the public by 12 PM on the day of the City Council meeting will be distributed to the City Council prior to the meeting and posted online. Members of the public who submit written public comment on an agenda item may be subject to the Levine Act which requires disclosure of campaign contributions of more than $500 to an officer of the City within the preceding 12 months.
City Hall and the Council Chambers are wheelchair accessible. If you require any special disability related accommodations to either attend or provide public testimony at a Council meeting (i.e. sign language interpreting, access to an amplified sound system, remote option, etc.), please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or TDD: (310) 917- 6626 or via email at [email protected] at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. Best efforts shall be made to accommodate requests received after the 72-hour deadline. In the case of special meetings, requests should be submitted as early as possible, but no later than noon the day of the special Council meeting.
Si desea comunicarse con alguien en español, llame a nuestra oficina al (310) 458-8211 y pida hablar con Esterlina Lugo.
Santa Monica Blue Bus Lines #1, #2, #3, #5, #9 and the EXPO Line serve City Hall.
Parking is available on Main Street, on Olympic Drive, and in the Civic Center Parking Structure (validation free).
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: July 29, 2025
Agenda Item: 16.A
1 of 1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Nikima Newsome, City Clerk, Records and Election Services Department Subject: Request by Councilmember Snell, with support from Mayor Pro Tem Torosis and Councilmember Hall, requesting City Council consideration of the following: (1) Remove all six of the current City Council appointed board members to the DTSM Board of Directors; and (2) Make the necessary findings that there currently exists an emergency circumstance which requires the City Council to expedite the appointment process for six new board members to DTSM.
Prepared By: Nikima Newsome, City Clerk
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. DTSM 16 Item
B. Written Comments
16.A
Packet Pg. 7
Memo
To: Oliver Chi, City Manager
From: Barry Snell, City Councilmember
Cc: Caroline Torosis, Mayor Pro Tem
Dan Hall, City Councilmember
Date: July 25, 2025
Re: Governance Reforms and Emergency Appointments to the Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM) Board of Directors
In coordination with Mayor Pro Tem Torosis and Councilmember Hall, we request that the full City Council consider taking immediate action to reform the governance of DTSM by approving the following actions:
1. Removing all six of the current City Council-appointed members to the DTSM Board of Directors, effective immediately.
2. Declaring that emergency circumstances exist under which the City Council may appoint acting board members, consistent with DTSM bylaws and State law, while also initiating the formal recruitment process to identify six permanent City Council appointments to the DTSM board.
3. Modifying current City Council practices, including a waiver of ranked-choice voting and Resolution No. 11510 procedures, to allow for the immediate appointment of six interim DTSM board members.
4. Directing that the City Clerk publish a notice of the board vacancies for DTSM and return to Council for final appointments at the City Council’s regular meeting of September 9.
As we all know, DTSM plays a pivotal role in shaping the vitality, safety, and economic success of downtown Santa Monica. Unfortunately, members of the public and this City Council have identified growing concerns regarding the lack of transparency and accountability as it relates to the policy direction being provided by DTSM’s current Board of Directors.
Given the recent announcement of the resignation of current CEO Andrew Thomas, we believe that the governance issues that currently exist at DTSM can no longer be ignored. Accordingly, we are requesting that the City Council support our request to remove all six of the current City Council appointed board members to the DTSM Board of Directors, and to make a finding that there currently exists an emergency circumstance which requires the City Council to expedite the appointment process for six new board members to DTSM.
By taking these actions now, prior to the selection of a new CEO, the City Council can ensure that DTSM is better positioned to serve the public interest, respond to evolving downtown challenges, and become a more effective and aligned City partner moving forward.
16.A.a
Packet Pg. 8
Attachment: DTSM 16 Item (7232 : Removal of Council Appointed DTSM Members) 1 David Yakobson
From: RADER_ROB <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 3:59 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Council Mailbox
Subject: Public comment on City of Santa Monica Special Meeting of July 29, 2025 / Item 16-A / Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and City Council Members,
I wish I could be there in person but I have a conflict with Santa Monica College’s Special Meeting of its Board of Trustees at 5 pm tonight.
For 20 years (2002 through 2022), I served as a City appointee on first the Bayside District Corporation and then its successor, Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM). Overall, I served for approximately 15 years as Treasurer, 1 year as Vice Chair, and 2 years as Chair, including during the pandemic. I was Treasurer when we organized a more formal PBAD (Property-Based Assessment District) which was created to take on new duties and responsibilities downtown, primarily ambassadors; an increased level of maintenance / cleaning; additional marketing /promotion / outreach; and strategic planning all to be paid for by assessments on the properties in Downtown Santa Monica in 3 diƯerent rate-paying districts (in addition to the various existing City assessments on the Promenade and Downtown and licenses to film permits and ICE promotions).
When the change was made to DTSM as a PBAD, the former Bayside District Corporation recommended more formal representation for property owners, although the City had always carefully maintained a balance of property owners, businesses (lessees of the property owners), and members of the public. Indeed, I was appointed to Bayside as general member of the public as I was then Chair of the Wilshire / Montana Neighborhood Coalition and helped to represent residents’ voices on the Bayside and DTSM Boards. Please note, almost all literature involving the DTSM (and Bayside previously) expressly referred to all these diƯerent interests as does the Service Agreement with the City.
Because the City was giving up complete ability to appoint all members of the Bayside Board in order to improve the Downtown via property-based assessments, it was decided that property owners would elect 6 members, the City would appoint 6 members, and the City would retain a final seat for the City Manager or his/ her designate. Again, this was to ensure that all voices were heard and all viewpoints considered, yet the City Council and City Manager would retain a majority that could be independent of just the interest of property owners. I know this because I was the Board member who made the motion to adopt the 6 + 6 + 1 plan, as I had the benefit of sitting next to former Mayor Ken Genser who was helpful to me in the wording (as he often was!).
When I applied for Bayside District, I referred to the Promenade as being Santa Monica’s Roman Forum, a public space of commerce but also of community, where people could have entertainment, meetings, and gatherings, including bars, movie theaters, bookstores, and unique events. It was always intended to be more than just maximizing sales, or rents. In fact, the City would generally use its appointments to counter-balance market considerations to reflect our collective aspirations that Downtown Santa Monica was more than just a mall. Although the City often appointed property owners or businesses, they were people who took a larger view then merely maximizing rents; these owners included Wally Marks; John Warfel; Bill Tucker; Johannes van Tilburg. I learned enormous amounts from the constructive dialogue we shared. Our consultants (especially Project for Public Spaces) would take videos and pictures of visitors of all ages who were smiling and having a Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
16.A.b
Packet Pg. 9
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (7232 : Removal of Council Appointed DTSM Members) 2 good time on the Promenade, noting that our street performers and urban authenticity were our advantages against an antiseptic mall atmosphere.
While I am embarrassed by the nostalgia, it feels like we have lost that reflective quality that encouraged engagement with multiple viewpoints. Most of the property owners seem to have only very limited concerns, and instead want to blame the City for District problems (which are really national ones, including a massive shift in retail and oƯice leasing). As property owner, former Chair, and City-appointed Board Member Johannes van Tilburgh said at the meeting when we adopted the “Promenade 3.0” plan in spring 2021, the vacancies in Downtown could be ended the moment property owners chose to reduce their rents (or as an economist would say, when they moved rent to the “market-clearing” price).
The City has never avoided taking bold action. When former Mayor Denny Zane worked with property owners to renovate and create the Bayside District, it was only the latest of several refurbishments of Third Street that the City had engaged in. But it was the one that “took”. We need to reinvent and reinvigorate the Downtown, and – in a time of less resources – we need to start the governance model that actually worked, one that encouraged giveand-take amongst diƯerent interests. Without a strong component of voices of the public, I fear that the assessments (which have not been raised in approximately 5 years) will continue to lose purchasing power and DTSM will wither away.
I am happy to discuss this at greater length with any of you, as my 20 years on the Boards of DTSM and Bayside gave me a strong opportunity to learn how to craft compromises that led to success both economically and culturally, including the very 6 + 6 + 1 compromise you are discussing tonight that worked so well for 15 years. I hope you take the bold actions necessary to once again re-invent Downtown Santa Monica for a new era – one where there is less demand both for oƯice space with tele-commuting and for retail with online vendors such as Amazon.
Yours,
Rob Rader
Former Chair, Vice-Chair, and Treasurer of Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. / Bayside District Corporation (2002 – 2022) C-Level Executive in Business, Government Relations, Operations & Legal Affairs Technology, Media & Digital Platforms
Santa Monica College Board of Trustees
The KCRW Foundation Board of Directors
Bridges Education Group Board of Directors
310.480.3229 (mobile)
[email protected]
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rob-rader/57/139/535
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
16.A.b
Packet Pg. 10
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (7232 : Removal of Council Appointed DTSM Members) 1 Mitchell Kois
From: John Alle <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 7:33 AM
To: John Alle
Subject: Follow-up to my email sent today at 6:45 AM Resized (easier to read) Documents
EXTERNAL
Hello.
Please click the link for easier to view document attachments Document 1
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JAElS2UhhDXTqWOHMw8a_mQQ9mJITulQ/view?usp=sharing Document
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KA7KpoRS8uIBi4DyjDXfYe3ZbwiNbdF7/view?usp=sharing ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please see the attached Memo from Santa Monica Councilmember Barry Snell to the City Manager to unilaterally replace the current Board Members appointed by the Council two years ago, prior to the expiration of their terms.
Now is the best time to dismantle the City-controlled nonprofit DTSM, Inc., get rid of the mandatory assessments property owners and businesses must pay, and create a true business improvement district (BID) that other successful cities have with hundreds of property owners, that are not controlled by the City.
Best and closest examples are Larchmont Blvd. in Hancock Park and Old Pasadena, each with 2 or 3 times the number of individual property owners. Their BID is not controlled by the City.
The City's financial and logistic responsibilities to clean garages, public spaces, empty trash dumpsters, etc., provide lighting and maintain landscaping in public areas, and maintain public safety will remain.
Information our team has collected from City Hall leads us to believe - - Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
16.A.b
Packet Pg. 11
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (7232 : Removal of Council Appointed DTSM Members) 2 DTSM CEO Andrew Thomas colluded with the City Council to remove the existing DTSM, Inc.
Board Members and be replaced by SMRR operatives who will agree to give him the $300K + salary he demanded.
This is legitimate corruption. Truly another new low for the City.
We will contact assessment-paying DTSM Stakeholders to arrange a combined inperson and zoom meeting to discuss dismantling the assessments and required payment prior to 2028, and establishing a new BID (perhaps even block by block) and lawsuit against the City.
Thanks to all who have the courage to stay informed and who take the time to let the City Council know your views on their policy proposals.
Below are the links to the Agenda and live broadcast of the meeting as well as the City Council email addresses. Comments emailed to Council must include the Agenda item # and be received by Tuesday at noon to be included in the Public Record.
AGENDA for August 29, 2025
https://santamonicacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1467 [email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
You can watch the meeting live beginning at 5:30 p.m. at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/user/Citytv16santamonica
John Alle 310 990 7124
--
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
16.A.b
Packet Pg. 12
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (7232 : Removal of Council Appointed DTSM Members) 3 John E. Alle
JOHN ALLE COMPANY
The Santa Monica Coalition/Safe Cities
www.johnallecompany.com
www.thesantamonicacoalition.org
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
16.A.b
Packet Pg. 13
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (7232 : Removal of Council Appointed DTSM Members) 4 Mitchell Kois
From: John Alle <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 6:46 AM
To: John Alle
Subject: Please see the attached Memo from Santa Monica Councilmember Barry Snell to the City Manager to eliminate and replace the current Board Members with a selection of their own, prior to
EXTERNAL
Please see the attached Memo from Santa Monica Councilmember Barry Snell to the City Manager to replace unilaterally replace the current Board Members appointed by the Council two years ago, prior to the expiration of their terms.
Now is the best time to dismantle the City-controlled nonprofit DTSM, Inc., get rid of the mandatory assessments property owners and businesses must pay, and create a true business improvement district (BID) that other successful cities have with hundreds of property owners, that are not controlled by the City.
The City's financial and logistic responsibilities to clean garages, public spaces, empty trash dumpsters, etc., provide and maintain landscaping in public areas, and maintain public safety will remain.
Information our team has collected from City Hall leads us to believe - - DTSM CEO Andrew Thomas colluded with the City Council to remove the existing DTSM, Inc.
Board Members and be replaced by SMRR operatives who will agree to give him the $300K + salary he demanded.
This is legitimate corruption. Truly another new low for the City.
We will contact assessment-paying DTSM Stakeholders to arrange a combined inperson and zoom meeting to discuss dismantling the assessments and required payment prior to 2028, and establishing a new BID (or not, perhaps even block by block, and lawsuit against the City.
Thanks to all who have the courage to stay informed and who take the time to let the City Council know your views on their policy proposals.
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
16.A.b
Packet Pg. 14
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (7232 : Removal of Council Appointed DTSM Members) 5 Below are the links to the Agenda and live broadcast of the meeting as well as the City Council email addresses. Comments emailed to Council must include the Agenda item # and be received by Tuesday at noon to be included in the Public Record.
AGENDA for August 29, 2025
https://santamonicacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1467 [email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
You can watch the meeting live beginning at 5:30 p.m. at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/user/Citytv16santamonica
John Alle 310 990 7124
--
John E. Alle
JOHN ALLE COMPANY
The Santa Monica Coalition/Safe Cities
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
16.A.b
Packet Pg. 15
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (7232 : Removal of Council Appointed DTSM Members) 6 www.johnallecompany.com
www.thesantamonicacoalition.org
Cell: (310) 990-7124
Office: (626) 795-1511 (310) 319-1511
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
16.A.b
Packet Pg. 16
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (7232 : Removal of Council Appointed DTSM Members) Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
16.A.b
Packet Pg. 17
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (7232 : Removal of Council Appointed DTSM Members) Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
16.A.b
Packet Pg. 18
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (7232 : Removal of Council Appointed DTSM Members) 1 Mitchell Kois
From: Nikima Newsome
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 10:50 AM
To: Mitchell Kois
Cc: Maria Dacanay-Wisner
Subject: Fw: Proposed Early Termination of Downtown Santa Monica Appointees Please process as an add to. Thanks.
Niki
Nikima S. Newsome
City Clerk
City of Santa Monica
(310)458-8211
From: Tudor, Lucian <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 10:30:51 AM
To: Douglas Sloan <[email protected]>; Nikima Newsome <[email protected]>; Lana Negrete <[email protected]>; Barry Snell <[email protected]>; Jesse Zwick <[email protected]>; Caroline Torosis <[email protected]>; Natalya Zernitskaya <[email protected]>; Dan Hall <[email protected]> Cc: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Proposed Early Termination of Downtown Santa Monica Appointees
EXTERNAL
Dear Honorable Members of the Santa Monica City Council, I am writing to express deep concern regarding the proposed removal of all six appointees serving on the Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. Board prior to the completion of their terms—and notably, without cause or public explanation.
This action, if carried out, would set a troubling precedent for the governance of public-private partnerships in Santa Monica. More importantly, it would undermine public confidence in our city’s commitment to transparency, process, and the fair treatment of its civic volunteers.
Each of us serving on the DTSM Board was appointed through a legitimate and open process. We have dedicated our time, expertise, and energy to supporting the vibrancy and recovery of the downtown district at a critical time.I also dedicate extremely valuable time and resources in supporting this struggling beloved city. Removing duly appointed board members without clear justification is not only disruptive, but risks politicizing what has historically been a productive and collaborative working body.
We respectfully ask the Council to:
1. Reconsider this decision and allow appointees to complete their terms.
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
16.A.b
Packet Pg. 19
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (7232 : Removal of Council Appointed DTSM Members) 2 2. Provide a clear public explanation of the rationale, if removal is still being considered.
3. Ensure that future actions involving civic boards follow consistent procedures and respect the spirit of public service.
Santa Monica has long been known for its thoughtful, inclusive civic process. We hope the Council will reaffirm that legacy by upholding fairness, continuity, and good governance.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Lucian Tudor
Appointee, Downtown Santa Monica Board
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
16.A.b
Packet Pg. 20
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (7232 : Removal of Council Appointed DTSM Members) 1 Mitchell Kois
From: Marc Verville <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 11:57 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Ellis Raskin; Jesse Zwick
Cc: councilmtgitems
Subject: SMCC 2025-07-29 Special Meeting Item 16.A. - Removal of all six of the current RCity Council appointed board members to the DTSM Board of Directors
EXTERNAL
To Mayor Negrete and Council Members,
While this belated acknowledgement of the City’s financial crisis is a posiƟve development, replacing all the DTSM Directors by abrogaƟon of adopted City Board processes sets an extremely bad precedent while failing to address the core issues driving the City’s worsening structural deficit: The abandonment of the city by anchor commercial insƟtuƟons due to failed safety, transient homelessness and cleanliness policies and the City’s business-hosƟle policy approach. In this, Santa Monica resembles downtown Los Angeles, another urban core being abandoned for the exact same reasons.
The peer areas such as Century City, AbboƩ Kinney and Marina Del Rey are all thriving for the same reason – they have proacƟvely and steadfastly addressed these issues, funneling businesses and visitors out of both Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
Moreover, the City’s offloading of its safety responsibiliƟes to DTSM has squandered the resources DTSM should have been using for markeƟng and commercial area upgrades.
Failure to address these fundamental issues will push the city into deeper financial crisis regardless of who is on the board of DTSM.
Marc L. Verville
Sunset Park
Former Chair, Santa Monica Audit SubcommiƩee
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
16.A.b
Packet Pg. 21
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (7232 : Removal of Council Appointed DTSM Members) 2 Mitchell Kois
From: Dannie Charney <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 9:49 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Subject: DTSM REPLACEMENT- OPPOSE
EXTERNAL
Now is the best time to dismantle the City-controlled nonprofit DTSM, Inc. it is long past time we stop the mandatory assessments that property owners and businesses must pay. We need to create a true business improvement district (BID), that other successful cities have.
These cities with hundreds of property owners are not controlled by the City. This is important.
Both Larchmont Blvd. in Hancock Park, and Old Pasadena are prime examples of this method. Each having 2 or 3 times the number of individual property owners. Their BIDs are not controlled by the City.
Of course the City's financial and logistic responsibilities to clean garages, public spaces, empty trash dumpsters, etc., provide lighting and maintain landscaping in public areas, and maintain public safety will remain.
It appears that DTSM CEO Andrew Thomas has colluded with City Council to remove the existing DTSM, Inc. Board Members and be replaced by SMRR operatives who will agree to give him the $300K + salary he demanded.
This is legitimate corruption. Truly another new low for the City.
This new City Council is operating like the Trump regime while pretending to be liberal. They are not. They are authoritarian and controlling. Dan Hall alone, along with Zwick and Natalya..the YIMBYs. are always outraged and threatening. Now they demand total control of boards and commissions. Stop this. Just stop it.
Danielle Charney
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
Special Agenda Item 16-A
July 29, 2025
16.A.b
Packet Pg. 22
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (7232 : Removal of Council Appointed DTSM Members)